Fun Food Adventures – June 13

The 4-H Home Economics Committee is planning a fun-filled morning of cooking how-tos and learn to make some delicious snacks. This class will focus on skills related to the 4-H Food Projects and get you started on your project work.

Please register by June 6, class sized is limited. Call 740-376-7431 to reserve your spot.

Hog Tag Picture Reminder

Hopefully you have already taken care of this, but here is a reminder:

By June 1, 2025 all hogs project members must take a picture of tag in hog’s ear and send it to: wcfhogs@gmail.com Must include name of exhibitor with their hog tag number. Submit 1 or 2 photos showing the tag number in the pig’s ear and showing the color & markings in the other photo. If the pig is one solid color then only one photo is needed.Pictures must be submitted by ALL exhibitors, regardless of who tagged them or where purchased.

If you want to share a pen with someone or have a pen request other than a sibling, notify Chris Campbell by June 15 (740-984-4646)

June 7 – Market Goat, Market Lamb, Dairy Feeder Steer Tag-in

Required Tag-in for Market Lambs, Market Goats, Dairy Feeder Steers will be Saturday, June 7 from 7—9:00 am at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Watch for road signs to indicate lineup locations.

Time: 7-9 am

All Market Goats & Market Lambs must have a Scrapie Tag in the ear by the June 7 tag-in. The Scrapie Tag should be put in by the breeder or where you purchased your animals.

Blue Breed Verification Cards Required for Dairy Feeder Steers – due June 1 – must be signed by dairy farmer where purchased in Ohio and include the ODA Producer number. Cards are available from the OSU Extension Office, your advisor or printed here:  Dairy Feeder Breed Verification Blue Card 2025

Dehorning and castration must be done prior to tag-in. The Fair Vet – Dr Luke Morrow will be checking animals during tag-in but WILL NOT be castrating or dehorning animals at tag-in. If this is not done to the Vet’s satisfaction, the animal will not be tagged.

Breeding Animal Leases Due June 1

If you are enrolled in a breeding animal or dairy project, you are being mailed a letter with the following information.  If you do not own the breeding animal you are planning to show, then a lease must be completed and returned the OSU Extension Office by June 1, 2025.

Read the rules here: Ohio Youth Livestock Exhibition Rules 4.17.23

If you need to complete a lease, all leases are due to OSU Extension by June 1:

Just to clarify, leases are not needed for market animals as ALL market animals must be fully owned by the exhibitor or household. This leasing information is only for members that do not own their breeding animals.

OSF Dog Show – Entries Due May 21

The Ohio State Fair Dog Show is scheduled for June 16-18 and the registration deadline is May 21 at 1:00 pm

The State Fair Dog Show is open to anyone enrolled in the appropriate 4-H Dog Project!

OSF Instructions for Completing Entries

The dates for the OSF Dog Show are earlier than normal due to construction on the state fairgrounds. The state fair has a separate entry for dogs to compensate for early dates. The dog show is now open for entry!!! There are no late entries for these shows.

For your information, the dog show entry is not obvious on the state fair website. The following information will be extremely helpful for exhibitors to find the information on the state fair website.

The 2025 Ohio State Fair Dog Show JUNE 16-18 is open for entries.

Entries close May 21 at 1:00 pm. There are no late entries.

Please go to the Ohio State Fair website for detailed information at:

https://www.ohiostatefair.com/p/get-involved/livestock/livestock-competitions

Scroll down to DOG SHOW. Read Competition Information and Information for entering dogs online.

Then click on the red – ENTER THE 2025 DOG SHOW (ENTRY LINK)

Final Livestock Quality Assurance Training – May 12

Please remember that QUALITY ASSURANCE is mandatory for all youth (taking market livestock and lactating dairy cattle/goat projects) and one parent/guardian must attend in order to be eligible to participate in junior fair events, shows and sales at the fairs. This is the final session remaining for 2025.

4-H Cake Decorating Clinics – June 9

Monday, June 9

  • Beginners: 9:00 – 11:00 am
  • Intermediates: 11:00 – 1:00 pm

Location: OSU Extension Conference Room – 1115 Gilman Ave, Marietta (Second Floor)

Who: All members taking the 4-H Cake Decorating Project or interested in cake decorating are invited.

Registration Required!

Questions: Call the Extension Office at 740-376-7431 with questions

What to Bring: The cake decorating clinic will focus on teaching and developing skills required in the project.  Please bring cake decorating project book, cake decorating supplies (bags, couplers and tips) and icing. NO CAKE NEEDED.

Instructor: Sloane Matics

OSU Extension Welcomes New Educator

OSU Extension Welcomes New Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator

T.J. Wells grew up in Whipple, Ohio on a small farm in Washington County where his family raised polled Hereford cattle, hay, and a garden.  He was active in 4-H, taking various livestock market projects and beef breeding projects that developed his interest in production agriculture.

He attended The Ohio State University and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Sciences, with a minor in Agricultural Business.  As an OSU student he was a member of the General Livestock Judging Team.

Over the past 20 years with his previous employer, he has been able to use his skills and learn various aspects of beef production operations; seedstock, show, and most recently commercial cow/calf where he developed more interest in grazing systems.

TJ resides in Lower Salem, OH with his wife Erin and their two children.  He also enjoys spending time with family, working on his farm, helping with 4-H projects, and watching the Buckeyes.

He started with OSU Extension on May 5 and looks forward to strengthening current agriculture relationships and meeting new Extension clients. His goal is helping clients bridge the gap between research and their agricultural and natural resource needs in Washington County. He can be reached at wells.314@osu.edu or by calling OSU Extension at 740-376-7431

It’s Time for 4-H Camp!!!!!!!!

Washington County 4-H is excited to announce the summer camp lineup and host camps for youth Kindergarten thru ninth grade. OSU Extension will be offering four camps this year, including a day camp, one overnight day camp, and two multi-day overnight camps. The camps will all be held at Camp Hervida near Waterford. Here is the summer lineup for the dates and camp specific information.

  •  Junior Camp: grades 3-5, June 23-27 (Registration Due-May 30)
  • Cloverbud Camp: ages 5-8, June 30 (Registration Due-May 30)
  • Beginner Camp: 2nd grade- 10 years old, July 1-2 (Registration Due-May 30)
  • Senior Camp: Grades 6-9, July 7-11 (Registration Due-June 13)

Registration costs will cover lodging, meals, daily canteen, evening snack, class and program supplies for the campers. The camp staff and camp counselors are looking forward to a fun and exciting 4-H camping season! Camp t-shirts will be available at additional cost.

Here’s what Ohio 4-H Campers had to say after their camping experiences in 2023:

  • 95% indicated that they had someone to look up to at camp
  • 97% said they made a new friend at camp
  • 94% indicated that they learned something new
  • 94% said they will recommend camp to their friends
  • 98% want to return to camp next year

For more information about the 4-H camping program or enrollment, please contact the Washington County Ohio State University Extension office at (740) 376-7431, or download a registration form from https://go.osu.edu/hervida

Camp scholarship applications are available here: Camp Scholarship Application – 2025Camp Scholarship Application – 2025

4-H Dog Obedience Training Nights

Our new 4-H dog obedience volunteers, Erin Wells and Connie Davis are planning 4-H dog obedience work nights. These are free training sessions for 4-H dog project members and members wanting to learn more about dog obedience.

Here is a note from Erin:

We will be meeting Mondays at the Fairgrounds at 7pm. We will start on 5/12.  If you are interested please let me know.

A little about my mother and I that are training.  I showed in dog obedience through 4-H as well as AKC growing up.  I have titled my dog through AKC and competed at the Ohio State Fair every year.  I placed every year at the state fair and received 1st place for 5 years.  My mother trained with our instructor during 4-H and then began showing dogs and titled dogs as well in AKC.  She has trained with various trainers and is experienced at instruction.  She also served on the State Dog committee for many years and we all helped at the competition for many years as well.  Both of us have judged dog competitions in the past.

We would love to build the dog program in our county again.  There are a lot of fun opportunities to compete or even just have a better behaved pet.  We are excited to see interest again and would love to help anyone who would be interested.